Vending machine for compressed gases and fluids in containers



Feb. 2 1926.

J. E. cARRoLl.

VENDING MACHINE FOR COMPRESSED GASES AND FLUIDS IN CONTAIERS Filed June 2l., 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,750

J. E( CARROLL VENDING MACHINE FOR COMPRESSED GASES AND FLUIDS IN CONTAINERS Filed June 2l, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet' 2 cl3-lull @ww/ Feb. 2,1926.

J. E. CARROLL.

VENDING MACHINE FOR COMPRESSED GSES AND FLUIDS IN CONTAINER-S P ed June 2l, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet '3 ll/lll V Jaw.

Feb. 2 1926.

` J. E. CARROLL VEND'ING MACHINE FOR ooMPnEssED GASES AND FLUIDs IN CONTAINERS 5 sheets-Sheet 4 Filed4 June 2l, 1923 Feb. 2 1926. 1571,750

' J. E. CARROLL I QNTAINERS Filed June 2l, 1923 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 lC75/lz E Carroll to th Y.

Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

mitral `rninirr orties.

JOI-1N E. CARRLL, OF EHILALUELFHIA, PENNSYLVNA. ASSIGNOR T0 CO-f PRODUCTS COMFANY, OF PHILADELPHIA. PEHNSYLVANEA, A CMPANY EXSTING NDER A DECLARATIN OF TRUST.

VENDIENG MACHNE FR CLVRESSED GASES AND FLUDS IN CONTAINERS.

Application ledJune 21, 1923. Serial No. 6463508.

ile il' known that lr.. JOHN ll. CARROLL, a citizen ot the United States, residing at 1919 li'orth 11th Street, Philadelphia, in the county ot' Pl'iiladelphia and State ol. Pennsylvania, have invented new and user'ul improvements in a Vending` `Machine lor Compressed Gases and Fluids in Containers, of which the following is a specilication.

riy invention relates to new and useful improvements in a vending machine for compressed gases and fluids in containers, und has Yfor its primary object to provide an apiiinratns which willdeliver a full container upon insertion of a coin and an empty container and the proper manipulation of the operating handle.

fanother object of this invention is to produce :i vending apparatus wherein the use ot springs, gears and racks or similar :'q'ipiu'tenances are eliminated.

Ei 'turther ohiect ot' my invention is to provide aplural j oi rotary carriers, alternete ones o1 which move in opposite directions. to assist in conveying containers intermittently over suitable supports and cause one on each support to drop through a hole nent support when one is delivered .iothe inserted.

l", ith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details ot construction and cou lr-niuation oi" elements' hereinafter set i and their specilically designated by claims. fn order that those skilled in the art to l s invention appertains, may underand how to .malte aud use the saine, l will ts construction in detail, referring` "als to the accompany-'ing drawings :i `part oiI this application7 in to... ius which :M-

ilf-ign l a vertical sectional view o't the vendingl machine embodying my invention with portions lett in elevation and the lock illustrated with relation to the other parts. Fig. 2 is a iop plan view oi.E the device with portion broken away to show a detail ot construction sind illustrating Vin dotted lines the position oi2 the hole in the ring` plate or cover when the machine is closed.

y Fig. 5l is a sectional sido elevation of the top, ring plate, and ring' plate actuating' mechanism.

Fig. Ylis a fragmentary sectional view at the line 4-1l of Fig. l with the top removed and av part of the ringl plate or cover broken away.

Fig. 5 cover.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view the line G-6 of Fig. 1 with the circular partitions removed.

Fig. Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan or tace View of the compound lever.

Fig. 9l is a plan View of the uppermost tarrier and its support.

Fig. 1G is a section at the' line 10-10 of Fig. 9. l

Fig. l1 is a plan view of the carrier and support just below the uppermost one and positioned relative thereto.

Fig. 12 is a section at the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a third carrier and support which is arranged below the second one and is positioned relative to the others. A

Fig. 14 is a section at the line lll- 14 of Fig. 13.

ln carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 15 is the lowermost of a plurality ol? supports and forms the bottoni of the ma-` is an edge View ot the ring plate or chine. This support is provided with legs` 16 in order that it shall be suitably elevated above the surface or object on which the machine rests. Around the outer edge is an integral upstanding flange 17 and concentric therewiifh is an annular rib 18 forming a racewaj: between it and the iiangrge 17 and through the support within the raceway is Y'ornied a hole 19. Figs. 13 'and 1l. which acts as tho exit tor the delivery oi" a container. l

.ln the center ot the support 15 is formed a boss Q0 in which is journalled the lower end ot the vertical operating shaft 21, the latter being enclosed by a central tube or hollow column. Q2 lined to the rib 18.

To the upper end of said tube or column is lined a ringv 23 including concentric inner',

and outer walls 24 and Q5 respectively with a groove 26 between them. The upper 0r outer edge ofthe outer wall coincides with the upper end of the tube 22 whilethe inner 7 isa similar view at the line or will 24 projects above the outer wall and y 'Lube so as to form a rest for the top 27 `ivhere it Will drop into the machine.

which has a rib 28 telescoping Within the ring 23.

The top has a hole 29, Fig. 2, which acts as the entrance foi-.the insertion of empty containers, and a coin slot 30 in alignment with the groove 26 from which latter leads a coin slot 31 -in staggered relation to the slot 30. On the outer edge of the top rests a portion of the casing 32 which encloses the parts of the machine and is detaehably connected with the liange 17 of the bottom support 15.

Underneath the top 27 and Within the oontines thereof is located a ring plate or cover 33 resting upon the upper end of the tube 22 and outer Wall 25 of the ring 23 While surrounding the inner Wall 24 of said ring so as to rotate thereabout. vThis ring plate or cover' has a coin notch 34 in its inner edge, Fig. 4, adapted to be moved into registration with either Iof the coin slots 30 in the top or 31 in the ring 24 and is also provided with a hole 35 adapted to be moved into registration with the hole 29 in the top.

The upper end of the operating shaft 21 proje-cts through the top and has fixed thereon a handle 36 for actuating it While on said shaft below the cover i iixed a coin pushing finger 37 projecting` through suitable slots in the rib 28 and inner Wall of the ring 23 and operating between the top and ring' plate so as to engage a coin dropped into the slot 3() and for coaction with said finger is a lip 38 formed with the ring plate or cover and produced by partially cutting a section of metal from the plate and bending the same upward or outward as plainly shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing` it may be seen that when a coin is dropped in the slot 30 it will fall into the groove 26 with a portion remaining' in the notch 34, then when the handle 36 is moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig 2, the coin will be moved around the groove 26 and carry the ring plate or cover 33 with it until the coin reaches the slot 31 l This movement of the ringplate or cover Will bring the hole 35 therein into registration with the hole 29 in the top so that an empty container may inserted. After this is done the ring` plate or cover may be returned to its normal closed position by reversing the movement of the operating handle causing the tinger 37 to move the cover in the reverse direction by reason of its engagement with the lip 38.

ln order to lock the operating handle and shaft a keeperI 39 may be pivotedto the top 27 in the region of the slot 30. The free end of such keeper is provided with a nose 40 torinsertion in a hole in the end of the linger 37 and also has a tongue 41 with a beveled u lver surface to project across the slot 30.. i'e'keeper is normally forced in- Ward by a spring 42. Asa coin is inserted in the slot 30 it will engage the tongue 41 and force the keeper outward against the action of the spring 42 and disengage the nose 40 from the finger 37 releasing the actuating shaft for movement in the first step of the vending operation.

F iXed to the central tube or hollow column 22 are other supports, here shown as tivo in number, the one directly above the support 15 being represented by the numeral 43 and the one above the support 43 designated by the reference 44. Each of these has a hub 45 and a concentric rim or flange 46 providing a. raceivay and through the support 43 Within the raceivay is a hole 47, Figs. 1l and 12, in staggeredrelation to the hole 19 in the support 15 as may be ascertained by reference to Figs. 11 and 13 which are in proper relative positions to each other the same as when the machine is completely assembled. Through the support 44 Within its raceway is formed a hole 48, Figs. 9 and 10, staggered relative to the hole in the support 43 but in a direct straight line With the hole 19 in the bottom support 15, likewise thehole 29 in the top 27 is in staggered relation to the hole 48 in the uppermost support 44 but in a direct straight line with the hole 47 in the intermediate support 43.

ln the raceivays of the supports 15, 43` and 44 are slidably or revolubly mounted the carriers 49, 50 and 51 respectively, each including an annulus 52 and a plurality of circular partitions providingchamber. for the reception of suitable containers or bottles The revolving` et' the carriers is accomplished through the medium of the containers or bottles in conjunction With the compound levers 54, 55 and 56. Each coinpound lever comprises a forked member 57 fixed to the operating shaft 21 and having a pair of spaced horns 58 hetween'which is located and adapted to `vork a pin 59 carried by the other member 69 loosely journalled on the operating shaft 21 and coacting with the forked member. The member 60V of lever 55 is reverse to that ol the other levers. Said other member 6() is adapted to project througl'i a slot 61 .in the tube or hollow column 22 below the partitions 53 oi' a rarrier so as to engage a container or bottle in said carrier.

The member 6() oi the compound lever 56 mav be locked in one Yoosit-ion by means of bolt 62 which is sirnabi); mounted in the housing 63 fixed to the central tube or hollow column and adapted to assume its locking position by gravity. rThe toe 64 of said bolt regsters with a cavity 65 in the member 60 of the compound lever 56 while the head 66 of 'n holt has a beveled under surface 'for coaetion with the inclined upper surface 67 of the lock boit actuating arm 68 journalled on the operatingl shaft 2l between two nuts 69 or their equivalent having threaded connection with a portion ,of the operating shait. The nuts trictionally engage the arm 63 to cause it to rotate with the shaft under certain conditions while per-` mitting it to be readily,v actuated independently oi the shaft when occasion requires.

When the machine is operated upon the insertion of a coin as above described the hole 35 in the ring plate or cover will be in alignment with the hole 29 in the top while the member 60 oi the compound levers 54 and 56 will be in the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig, 6 and therefore to the rear of the holes 29 and 4'? above them. As soon as a container or bottle7 is inserted in the hole 29 it will engage the outer end of the arm 68 and move it over sniiiciently to cause the bevel upper surface thereof to lift the bolt 62 and disengage its toe 64 `from the cavity in the member 60 of the uppermost compound lever 56 permitting the operating handle 36 to be returned to its normal position, the movement of which is approximately seventy-five degrees, while moving the members 60 of the compound levers but thirty-six degrees. This move-- ment of the compound levers will force the carriers 49 and 51 in the same direction as the movement of the operating handle through the engagement of the compound levers with one of the containers or bottles in the respective carriers.

When this movement of the carriers is completed a container traveling on the support 44 by the carrier 51 will drop through the hole 48 in said support on to the nent succeedin(r support 43 entering an empty chamber in the carrier forward of the hole 47 in the support 43, so that the container dropping onto the support 43 will be on the left hand side ot the lever 55 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 7. As the operating handle is again moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the

member 60 of lever 55 will move the carrier on'the support 43 in a directionp opposite that of the carriers 49 and 51.

Upon insertion et another coin for the next operation of the machine the handle will be given. its first movement to open the machine and this will cause the member 6() of the compound lever 55 to engage the container which has dropped from the support 44 to the support 43 and move all of the containers on said` support 43 forward one stop thus causing a container to pass through the hole 47 in the support 43 and drop into an empty chamber in the carrier 49 associated with the support l5. As this movement is completed the member 60 ot the compound lever 56 will be locked` b v the bolt 62 and will remain loclted until the container is inserted through the hole in the top for again actuating the arm 68 to move the bolt to an unlocked' position. As soon as this is done and the operatinghandle 36 again returned to its normal position the containers in the lowermost carrier 49 will be moved until one of them drop through the eXit 19 and as .said container is delivered to the customer a container ot the uppermost carrier 5l will drop through the hole 48 in the support 44 into an empty chai'nber in the carrier 50 on the support 43.

From the foregoing it will be seen that .it is necessary that both a coin and` a container' must be inserted in thel machine be' fore the complete vending operation can take place for the deliverjgv o'l a inll con-- tainer at the bottom oif the machine.

Of course l do not wish to be limited to the exact details ot construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without dcparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fnllf.T described 'my invention, what l claim as new and useful is:-

l. A machine for vending' meii'chandise in returnable containers comprising a pluralit)v of supports arranged above one another each having a single communication with the support bene-ath, the communi lation between alternate supports being` in staggered relation, and means to move containers resting on the supports toward the communications between supports, said means being` placed in operative condition. by the inse tion ot' a coin and a container in the inachine.

2. A machine tor vending merclmndise in returnable containers comprising a plurality,r of supports arranged above one another each having a single communication with the support beneath, the communication be tween'alternate supports being in staggered relation,` and meansv to move containers resting on the supports toward the communications between supports, said means being movable one step upon insertion of a coin and movable a second step a'tter the first movement by the insertion olf a container.

3. A machine 'for vending merchandise in returnable containers comprising a plnrz'ilitv of supports arranged above one a nother nach having a single corinnunication with the support beneath, the communication between alternate supports being in staggered relation, rotatable means Lassociated with each support to hold containers for moving` them in unison, mechanism operable from the exterior o'l2 the machine and coactingwith a container otk cach group to move said containers toward the point ot communication with the support below, coin controlled means to lock said mechanism and means controlled by a returnable container to lock said mechanism in a semi-open condition.

4. A machine for vending merchandise in llO returnable containers Which Will insure the return of an empty container as Well as the depositing of a coin to secure a full container, such machine comprisinga pluralityv of fixed supports, each having a hole to permit a container' to drop from one support to the one beneath and means controlled by a coin and a container to move the containers over the supports toward the holes.

5. machine for vending merchandise in returnaole containers Whichvvill insure the return of an empty container as Well as the depositii'ig of a coin to secure'a full container, such machine comprising a plurality of fixed supports arranged above one another, each having a hole to permit a container to drop from one support to the one beneathl the holes in alternate supports being in staggered relation, carriers associated with each support to hold the containers in upright positions and move them in unison over the supportsv` alternate carriers adapted to be rotated in opposite directions and means controlled by a coin and a container and adapted to coact with a container on each support for propelling all the containers on the supports toward the holes therein. i

6. A machine for vending merchandise in returnable containers which will insure the return of an empty container as Well as the depositing of a coin to secure a full container, such machine comprising a plurality of fixed supports arranged above one another, each having a hole to permit acontainer to drop from one support to the one beneath, the holes in alternate supports being in staggered relation, carriers associated with each support to hold the containers in upright positions and move them in unison over the supports, alternate carriers adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, -a top having a hole therethrough in staggered relation to the hole in the uppermost support, a ring plate having a hole therethrough and rotatable to align the hole therein with the hole in the top, an operating shaft having an end projecting through the cover, a handle on said end and compound levers connected with the operating shaft and adapted to engage a container on each support for propelling all the containers on the supports toward the holes therein.

7. A machine for vending merchandise in returnable containers which Will Iinsure the return of an empty container as Well as the depositing of a coin to secure a full container, such machine comprising a pluralitjv of fixed supports arranged above one an other, each having' a hole to permit a container to drop from one support to the one beneath, the holes in alternate supports beingin staggered relation, `carriers associated vith each support to hold the containers in upright positions and move them in unison over the supports, alternate vcarriers adapted to be 'rotated in opposite directions, a holloiv column, a. ring having a groove therein mounted on the upper end of the column, said ring further having a coin slot leading from the groove,a top provided with a coin slet in staggered relation to the first named coin slot and having a hole in staggered relation to the hole in the uppermost support, a rotatable ring plate beneath the top and provided with a hole adapted to be moved into alignment with the hole in the top and further provided with a coin notch, an operating shaft enclosed within the column and projecting through the top, a handle on said projecting end, a linger :fixed to the shaft for engagement with a coin lying in the groove ofthe ring and the notch in the ring plate whereby the latter may be rotated in one direction, Vmeans on the ring plate for coaction With said linger for moving ther-ing plate in the other direction, coin actuated means to lock the linger :and component parts when the machine is closed, compound levers each comprising a forked member fixed to the shaft, another member journalled on lthe shaft and a pin carried bv said other member for cooperation with the forked member, said other member of each compound lever projecting vthrough the hollow column for coaction with a container on each support for propeiling all the containers on the supports toward the holes therein, means coacting with one of the compound levers to loclrit and the component parts in a semi-opening position and means actuated' b v the insertion of' an emptj.7 container in the top hole for releasing the last named locking means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aiixed my signature.

JOHN E. CARROLL. 

